Obesity is a risk factor for poor response to treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis: a NORD-STAR study.

OBJECTIVE: This report from the NORD-STAR (Nordic Rheumatic Diseases Strategy Trials and Registries) trial aimed to determine if obesity is associated with response to conventional and biological antirheumatic treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This report included 793 participants with untreated early RA from the randomised, longitudinal NORD-STAR trial, all of whom had their body mass index (BMI) assessed at baseline. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2. All participants were randomised 1:1:1:1 to one of four treatment arms: active conventional treatment, certolizumab-pegol, abatacept and tocilizumab. Clinical and laboratory measurements were performed at baseline and at 8, 12, 24 and 48-week follow-up. The primary endpoint for this report was response to treatment based on Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) remission and Disease Activity Score with 28 joints using C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) <2.6 stratified by BMI. RESULTS: Out of 793 people included in the present report, 161 (20%) had obesity at baseline. During follow-up, participants with baseline obesity had higher disease activity compared with those with lower BMI, despite having similar disease activity at baseline. In survival analyses, obesity was associated with a lower likelihood of achieving response to treatment during follow-up for up to 48 weeks (CDAI remission, HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.05; SDAI, HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.97; DAS28-CRP <2.6, HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.95). The effect of obesity on response to treatment was not influenced by the treatment arms. CONCLUSION: In people with untreated early RA followed up for up to 48 weeks, obesity was associated with a lower likelihood of good treatment response, irrespective of the type of randomised treatment received. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01491815.

Urinary prostanoids are elevated by anti-TNF and anti-IL6 receptor disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs but are not predictive of response to treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are widely used for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there are no established biomarkers to predict a patient's response to these therapies. Prostanoids, encompassing prostaglandins, prostacyclins, and thromboxanes, are potent lipid mediators implicated in RA progression. Nevertheless, the influence of DMARDs on prostanoid biosynthesis in RA patients remains poorly understood. This study aims to assess the impact of various DMARDs on urinary prostanoids levels and to explore whether urinary prostanoid profiles correlate with disease activity or response to therapy. METHODS: This study included 152 Swedish female patients with early RA, all rheumatoid factor (RF) positive, enrolled in the NORD-STAR trial (registration number: NCT01491815). Participants were randomized into four therapeutic regimes: methotrexate (MTX) combined with (i) prednisolone (arm ACT), (ii) TNF-α blocker certolizumab pegol (arm CZP), (iii) CTLA-4Ig abatacept (arm ABA), or (iv) IL-6R blocker tocilizumab (arm TCZ). Urine samples, collected before start of treatment and at 24 weeks post-treatment, were analyzed for tetranor-prostaglandin E metabolite (tPGEM), tetranor-prostaglandin D metabolite (tPGDM), 2,3-dinor thromboxane B2 (TXBM), 2,3-dinor-6-keto prostaglandin F1a (PGIM), leukotriene E4 (LTE4) and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to analyze the change in urinary eicosanoids and their correlations to clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Patients receiving MTX combined with CZP or TCZ exhibited significant elevations in urinary tPGEM and TXBM levels after 24 weeks of treatment. Other eicosanoids did not show significant alterations in response to any treatment. Baseline urinary eicosanoid levels did not correlate with baseline clinical disease activity index (CDAI) levels, nor with changes in CDAI from baseline to week 24. Their levels were also similar between patients who achieved CDAI remission and those with active disease at week 24. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with anti-TNF or anti-IL6R agents in early RA patients leads to an increased systemic production of proinflammatory and prothrombotic prostanoids. However, urinary eicosanoid levels do not appear to be predictive of the response to DMARDs therapy.

Long-term efficacy of a 2-year MRI treat-to-target strategy on disease activity and radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in clinical remission: 5-year follow-up of the IMAGINE-RA randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a 2-year MRI treat-to-target strategy targeting the absence of osteitis combined with clinical remission, compared with a conventional treat-to-target strategy targeting clinical remission only (IMAGINE-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) trial) improves clinical and radiographic outcomes over 5 years in patients with RA in clinical remission. METHODS: IMAGINE-more was an observational extension study of the original 2-year IMAGINE-RA randomised trial (NCT01656278). Clinical examinations and radiographs (hands and feet) were obtained yearly. Prespecified coprimary outcomes at year 5 were Disease Activity Score in 28 joints C reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) remission rate (DAS28-CRP<2.6) and no radiographic progression (van der Heijde-modified Sharp score (vdHSS) ≤0) from baseline. Secondary outcomes included 5-year changes in radiographic, MRI and clinical measures of disease activity and physical function. RESULTS: In total 131 patients, 86 women (67%), mean age 61.2, disease duration 9.5 years, median baseline DAS28-CRP 1.9 (IQR 1.6-2.2) and vdHSS 16.0 (IQR 7.0-36.0) were included in the study; 59 (59%) patients from the original MRI treat-to-target group and 72 (72%) from the conventional group. At year 5, 47 patients (80%) in the MRI treat-to-target group vs 54 patients (75%) in the conventional treat-to-target group were in DAS28-CRP remission (OR 2.00 (95% CI 0.76 to 5.28); p=0.16) while 14 patients (24%) vs 19 patients (26%) had no radiographic progression (OR 0.70, (95% CI 0.28 to 1.71); p=0.43). CONCLUSION: A 2-year combined MRI and clinical treat-to-target strategy, compared with a conventional clinical treat-to-target strategy alone, had no effect on the long-term probability of achieving DAS28-CRP remission and of avoiding radiographic progression.

Brodalumab Versus Guselkumab in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis with an Inadequate Response to Ustekinumab: A Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind Phase 4 Trial (COBRA).

INTRODUCTION: Despite improved treatment options for plaque psoriasis within the last decades, some patients still have an inadequate response to treatment. Direct clinical evaluation between therapies used after biologic failure could facilitate physicians' choice of treatment. METHODS: COBRA (NCT04533737) was a randomized (1:1), blinded (patient and assessor), 28-week, active-comparator trial conducted in Europe from December 2020 to December 2022. The objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of brodalumab versus guselkumab in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and inadequate response to ustekinumab. Patients received either brodalumab 210 mg or guselkumab 100 mg. The primary [having Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)-100 response at week 16] and key secondary (time to PASI-100 response) endpoints were tested in a fixed sequence. RESULTS: Due to delays and enrollment challenges, recruitment was terminated with 113 patients enrolled of 240 planned. The proportion of patients having PASI-100 at week 16 for brodalumab was 53.4% compared with 35.9% for guselkumab [odds ratio (OR) 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95, 4.44; p = 0.069]. As this was not statistically significant, the hierarchical testing procedure was stopped. All other secondary PASI endpoints had nominal p-values below 0.05 in favor of brodalumab. In the time to PASI response analyses, brodalumab separated from guselkumab in estimated cumulative incidence of patients achieving a response from week 2 onward, suggesting fast onset of action with brodalumab. Quality of life measures improved in both treatment groups. The safety findings were consistent with the known safety profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Brodalumab showed a tendency toward better and earlier effect than guselkumab in patients who had failed ustekinumab. Thus, this trial provides important information in assisting physicians in their choice of therapy for patients who have failed their prior anti-interleukin (IL)-12/23 treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04533737.

The 2022 world health organization reevaluation of human and mammalian toxic equivalency factors for polychlorinated dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls.

In October 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened an expert panel in Lisbon, Portugal in which the 2005 WHO TEFs for chlorinated dioxin-like compounds were reevaluated. In contrast to earlier panels that employed expert judgement and consensus-based assignment of TEF values, the present effort employed an update to the 2006 REP database, a consensus-based weighting scheme, a Bayesian dose response modeling and meta-analysis to derive "Best-Estimate" TEFs. The updated database contains almost double the number of datasets from the earlier version and includes metadata that informs the weighting scheme. The Bayesian analysis of this dataset results in an unbiased quantitative assessment of the congener-specific potencies with uncertainty estimates. The "Best-Estimate" TEF derived from the model was used to assign 2022 WHO-TEFs for almost all congeners and these values were not rounded to half-logs as was done previously. The exception was for the mono-ortho PCBs, for which the panel agreed to retain their 2005 WHO-TEFs due to limited and heterogenous data available for these compounds. Applying these new TEFs to a limited set of dioxin-like chemical concentrations measured in human milk and seafood indicates that the total toxic equivalents will tend to be lower than when using the 2005 TEFs.

Methotrexate Safety and Efficacy in Combination Therapies in Patients With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated methotrexate safety and the influence of dose on efficacy outcomes in combination with three different biologic treatments and with active conventional treatment (ACT) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This post hoc analysis included 812 treatment-naïve patients with early RA who were randomized (1:1:1:1) in the NORD-STAR trial to receive methotrexate in combination with ACT, certolizumab-pegol, abatacept, or tocilizumab. Methotrexate safety, doses, and dose effects on Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission were assessed after 24 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Compared with ACT, the prevalence of methotrexate-associated side effects was higher when methotrexate was combined with tocilizumab (hazard ratio [HR] 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.84) but not with certolizumab-pegol (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.79-1.23) or with abatacept (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.75-1.16). With ACT as the reference, the methotrexate dose was significantly lower when used in combination with tocilizumab (ß -4.65, 95% CI -5.83 to -3.46; P < 0.001) or abatacept (ß -1.15, 95% CI -2.27 to -0.03; P = 0.04), and it was numerically lower in combination with certolizumab-pegol (ß -1.07, 95% CI -2.21 to 0.07; P = 0.07). Methotrexate dose reductions were not associated with decreased CDAI remission rates within any of the treatment combinations. CONCLUSION: Methotrexate was generally well tolerated in combination therapies, but adverse events were a limiting factor in receiving the target dose of 25 mg/wk, and these were more frequent in combination with tocilizumab versus ACT. On the other hand, methotrexate dose reductions were not associated with decreased CDAI remission rates within any of the four treatment combinations at 24 weeks.

Certolizumab pegol, abatacept, tocilizumab or active conventional treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis: 48-week clinical and radiographic results of the investigator-initiated randomised controlled NORD-STAR trial.

BACKGROUND: The optimal first-line treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is debated. We compared clinical and radiographic outcomes of active conventional therapy with each of three biological treatments with different modes of action. METHODS: Investigator-initiated, randomised, blinded-assessor study. Patients with treatment-naïve early RA with moderate-severe disease activity were randomised 1:1:1:1 to methotrexate combined with (1) active conventional therapy: oral prednisolone (tapered quickly, discontinued at week 36) or sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine and intra-articular glucocorticoid injections in swollen joints; (2) certolizumab pegol; (3) abatacept or (4) tocilizumab. Coprimary endpoints were week 48 Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission (CDAI ≤2.8) and change in radiographic van der Heijde-modified Sharp Score, estimated using logistic regression and analysis of covariance, adjusted for sex, anticitrullinated protein antibody status and country. Bonferroni's and Dunnet's procedures adjusted for multiple testing (significance level: 0.025). RESULTS: Eight hundred and twelve patients were randomised. Adjusted CDAI remission rates at week 48 were: 59.3% (abatacept), 52.3% (certolizumab), 51.9% (tocilizumab) and 39.2% (active conventional therapy). Compared with active conventional therapy, CDAI remission rates were significantly higher for abatacept (adjusted difference +20.1%, p<0.001) and certolizumab (+13.1%, p=0.021), but not for tocilizumab (+12.7%, p=0.030). Key secondary clinical outcomes were consistently better in biological groups. Radiographic progression was low, without group differences.The proportions of patients with serious adverse events were abatacept, 8.3%; certolizumab, 12.4%; tocilizumab, 9.2%; and active conventional therapy, 10.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with active conventional therapy, clinical remission rates were superior for abatacept and certolizumab pegol, but not for tocilizumab. Radiographic progression was low and similar between treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01491815.

Lymphocyte activation gene 3 is increased and affects cytokine production in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) inhibits T cell activation and interferes with the immune response by binding to MHC-II. As antigen presentation is central in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis, we studied aspects of LAG-3 as a serological marker and mediator in the pathogenesis of RA. Since Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is described as an additional binding partner for LAG-3, we also aimed to study the functional importance of this interaction. METHODS: Plasma levels of soluble (s) LAG-3 were measured in early RA patients (eRA, n = 99) at baseline and after 12 months on a treat-to-target protocol, in self-reportedly healthy controls (HC, n = 32), and in paired plasma and synovial fluid (SF) from chronic RA patients (cRA, n = 38). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) were examined for LAG-3 expression by flow cytometry. The binding and functional outcomes of LAG-3 and Gal-3 interaction were assessed with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and in cell cultures using rh-LAG3, an antagonistic LAG-3 antibody and a Gal-3 inhibitor. RESULTS: Baseline sLAG-3 in the plasma was increased in eRA compared to HC and remained significantly elevated throughout 12 months of treatment. A high level of sLAG-3 at baseline was associated with the presence of IgM-RF and anti-CCP as well as radiographic progression. In cRA, sLAG-3 was significantly increased in SF compared with plasma, and LAG-3 was primarily expressed by activated T cells in SFMCs compared to PBMCs. Adding recombinant human LAG-3 to RA cell cultures resulted in decreased cytokine secretion, whereas blocking LAG-3 with an antagonistic antibody resulted in increased cytokine secretion. By SPR, we found a dose-dependent binding between LAG-3 and Gal-3. However, inhibiting Gal-3 in cultures did not further change cytokine production. CONCLUSIONS: sLAG-3 in the plasma and synovial fluid is increased in both early and chronic RA patients, particularly in the inflamed joint. High levels of sLAG-3 are associated with autoantibody seropositivity and radiographic progression in eRA, and LAG-3 plays a biologically active role in cRA by decreasing inflammatory cytokine production. This functional outcome is not affected by Gal-3 interference. Our results suggest that LAG-3 is a faceted regulator of inflammation in early and chronic RA.

Plasma levels of multiple cardiovascular- and inflammation-related proteins analysed for associations with disease activity and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide status in active early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare plasma levels of 92 cardiovascular- and inflammation-related proteins (CIRPs) and to analyse for associations with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) status and disease activity in early and treatment-naive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Olink CVD-III-panel was used to measure 92 CIRP plasma levels in 180 early, treatment-naive, and highly inflamed RA patients from the OPERA trial. CIRP plasma levels as well as correlation between CIRP plasma levels and RA disease activity were compared between anti-CCP groups. CIRP level-based hierarchical cluster analysis was performed in each anti-CCP group separately. RESULTS: The study included 117 anti-CCP-positive and 63 anti-CCP-negative RA patients. Among the 92 CIRPs measured, the levels of chitotriosidase-1 (CHIT1) and tyrosine-protein-phosphatase non-receptor-type substrate-1 (SHPS-1) were increased and those of metalloproteinase inhibitor-4 (TIMP-4) decreased in the anti-CCP-negative group compared to anti-CCP-positive group. The strongest associations with RA disease activity were found for interleukin-2 receptor-subunit-alpha (IL2-RA) and E-selectin levels in the anti-CCP-negative group and for C-C-motif chemokine-16 levels (CCL16) in the anti-CCP-positive group. None of the differences passed the Hochberg sequential multiplicity test, however, the CIPRs were interacting and thus the prerequisites of the Hochberg procedure were not fulfilled. CIRP level-based cluster analysis identified two patient clusters in both anti-CCP groups. Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in the two clusters for each anti-CCP group. CONCLUSIONS: In active and early RA, the findings regarding CHIT1, SHPS-1 TIMP-4, IL2-RA, E-selectin, and CCL16 differed between the two anti-CCP groups. In addition, we identified two patient clusters that were independent of the anti-CCP status.

Increased Galectin-9 Levels Correlate with Disease Activity in Patients with DMARD-Naïve Rheumatoid Arthritis and Modulate the Secretion of MCP-1 and IL-6 from Synovial Fibroblasts.

Background: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are essential mediators in the expansive growth and invasiveness of rheumatoid synovitis, and patients with a fibroblastic-rich pauci-immune pathotype respond poorly to currently approved antirheumatic drugs. Galectin-9 (Gal-9) has been reported to directly modulate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) FLSs and to hold both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical and pathogenic aspects of Gal-9 in RA, combining national patient cohorts and cellular models. Methods: Soluble Gal-9 was measured in plasma from patients with newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve RA (n = 98). The disease activity score 28-joint count C-reactive protein (DAS28CRP) and total Sharp score were used to evaluate the disease course serially over a two-year period. Plasma and synovial fluid samples were examined for soluble Gal-9 in patients with established RA (n = 18). A protein array was established to identify Gal-9 binding partners in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs), harvested from RA patients, were used to obtain synovial-fluid derived FLSs (SF-FLSs) (n = 7). FLSs from patients suffering from knee Osteoarthritis (OA) were collected from patients when undergoing joint replacement surgery (n = 5). Monocultures of SF-FLSs (n = 6) and autologous co-cultures of SF-FLSs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured with and without a neutralizing anti-Gal-9 antibody (n = 7). The mono- and co-cultures were subsequently analyzed by flow cytometry, MTT assay, and ELISA. Results: Patients with early and established RA had persistently increased plasma levels of Gal-9 compared with healthy controls (HC). The plasma levels of Gal-9 were associated with disease activity and remained unaffected when adding a TNF-inhibitor to their standard treatment. Gal-9 levels were elevated in the synovial fluid of established RA patients with advanced disease, compared with corresponding plasma samples. Gal-9 adhered to fibronectin, laminin and thrombospondin, while not to interstitial collagens in the ECM protein array. In vitro, a neutralizing Gal-9 antibody decreased MCP-1 and IL-6 production from both RA FLSs and OA FLSs. In co-cultures of autologous RA FLSs and PBMCs, the neutralization of Gal-9 also decreased MCP-1 and IL-6 production, without affecting the proportion of inflammatory FLSs. Conclusions: In RA, pretreatment plasma Gal-9 levels in early RA were increased and correlated with clinical disease activity. Gal-9 levels remained increased despite a significant reduction in the disease activity score in patients with early RA. The in vitro neutralization of Gal-9 decreased both MCP-1 and IL-6 production in an inflammatory subset of RA FLSs. Collectively these findings indicate that the persistent overexpression of Gal-9 in RA may modulate synovial FLS activities and could be involved in the maintenance of subclinical disease activity in RA.

The effect of foot orthoses on gait biomechanics and pain among people with rheumatoid arthritis: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Foot pain is frequent among people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Foot orthoses (FO) are commonly prescribed with the intention to reduce pain symptoms and improve function. RESEARCH QUESTION: How do a custom-made FO affect pain, gait biomechanics and daily activity among people with RA? METHODS: Twenty-five participants with RA and foot pain completed this quasi-experimental study using a control insole for four weeks and then a custom-made FO in the following four weeks. The foot orthoses were customized by plantar foot shape targeting optimal restoration of normal arch height. A visual analog scale was used to monitor changes in ankle/foot, knee, hip joints, and global arthritis pain. In addition, the perceived pain area was measured using a body chart analysis. Kinematics and kinetics of the hip, knee and ankle joints during gait were analyzed using 3D-motion capture. Daily steps were measured with a wrist-based activity tracker for both the control insole and custom-made FO period, respectively. RESULTS: In comparison to the control insole, the custom-made FO reduced ankle/foot pain intensity (p < 0.001) in addition to a reduction of the perceived pain areas in the feet (p < 0.001), legs (p = 0.012), as well as the arms and hands (p = 0.014). Ankle plantar flexion and eversion moments were also reduced (p < 0.001). No difference in daily steps was observed between the two periods (p = 0.657). SIGNIFICANCE: This study has demonstrated an ankle/foot pain-relieving effect in conjunction with alterations of the ankle joint moments in people with RA using custom-made FO. The pain relief is plausibly attributed to alterations of the ankle joint moments when using the custom-made FO. However, future studies are needed to explore further into therapeutic implication of custom-made FO in pain management of people with RA.

Different types of foot orthoses effect on gait mechanics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Foot orthoses are a first line conservative treatment for foot impairments in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), however their effect on gait mechanics is poorly understood. We aimed to compare changes in lower limb and foot mechanics between two types of commonly used foot orthoses (FO) with a control. Twenty-seven patients with rheumatoid arthritis participated in this crossover study. Two different types of FO (a medially wedged custom-made FO and a prefabricated FO with a metatarsal dome, respectively), were compared against a control insole. During gait, lower limb mechanics were analyzed using 3D motion capture, force plates, and an in-shoe pressure system. Inverse dynamics models were created in the Anybody Modeling System to calculate joint angles and joint moments during gait. Gait variables were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping. Compared to the control, the prefabricated FO had limited effect on gait mechanics. Compared to the control the custom-made FO reduced ankle plantarflexion moment with 0.4 %body weight * body height (BW * BH) between 66 and 76% of stance and ankle eversion moment was reduced 0.16% BW*BH between 3 and 40% of stance. Furthermore, it also reduced the average forefoot plantar pressure by 9 kPa between 20 and 62% of stance compared to the control. Changes in foot pressure distribution, joint moments and angles were most pronounced for custom-made FO compared to the prefabricated FO. The findings suggest that patients with RA and foot impairments may benefit more from an individualized FO strategy, if the aim of the treatment is to alter gait mechanics. (NCT03561688).

CXCL13 predicts long-term radiographic status in early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Identification of RA patients at a high risk of joint destruction remains challenging. The C-X-C motif chemokine 13 (CXCL13) has previously been suggested as a marker of disease activity in RA. Here, we investigate the potential of plasma CXCL13 as a marker of long-term radiographic status and progression. METHODS: CXCL13 was measured in plasma from treatment-naïve RA patients (n = 158) with an 11-year follow-up. At baseline, clinical and biochemical DASs were obtained; among these CRP, ESR, DAS in 28 joints with CRP (DAS28CRP), number of swollen joints (SJC28) and radiographic status, evaluated by total Sharp score (TSS). Age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. RESULTS: CXCL13 was significantly increased at baseline and decreased during treatment; however, it was not reduced to the level in HCs. At baseline, CXCL13 was associated with both CRP and ESR, but not with other markers of disease activity. Baseline CXCL13 was correlated with both TSS and radiographic progression (ΔTSS) at 11 years. With an 89% probability, levels of CXCL13 above 85 pg/ml predicted the risk of a TSS of 5 or above, after 11 years of treatment. Compared with CRP, DAS28CRP, SJC28 and ACPA status, CXCL13 was superior in predicting 11-year joint destruction. CONCLUSION: In early RA, one single measurement of plasma CXCL13 at baseline is superior to currently used clinical and serological disease markers in the prediction of long-term radiographic status and progression.

Blood chemokine levels are markers of disease activity but not predictors of remission in early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: In early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) plasma levels of specific chemokines have been shown to correlate with disease activity. However, it is unclear whether pre-treatment chemokine levels can predict disease remission at week 24, and it is not known how biological treatments with different modes of action affect plasma chemokine levels in patients with untreated eRA. METHODS: This study included 347 Swedish patients with untreated eRA from the larger NORD-STAR randomised treatment trial. Here, eRA patients were treated with methotrexate combined with either prednisolone, anti-TNF (certolizumab-pegol), CTLA-4Ig (abatacept) or anti-IL6 receptor (tocilizumab). The primary clinical outcome was remission by clinical disease activity index (CDAI) defined as CDAI ≤ 2.8. Disease activity was assessed by CDAI, DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, swollen joint counts, tender joint counts, ESR and CRP. The plasma concentrations of 14 chemokines were measured at baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment by bead-based immunoassay or ELISA. RESULTS: Baseline plasma concentrations of CXCL10, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL11, CXCL5 and CCL2 correlated with baseline disease activity measures. After 24 weeks of treatment, plasma levels of CXCL10, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL11 and CXCL13 decreased in all treatment groups except in patients treated with anti-IL6 receptor. In multivariate factor analysis, plasma chemokine levels at baseline could not differentiate patients who attained remission by week 24 from those who did not in any of the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with untreated eRA, plasma levels of several chemokines correlate with disease activity at baseline but cannot predict remission after 24 weeks of treatment with methotrexate combined with prednisolone, anti­TNF, CTLA­4Ig or anti­IL6R.

Sex differences in remission rates over 24 weeks among three different biological treatments compared to conventional therapy in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (NORD-STAR): a post-hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a well-recognised female preponderance. In this post-hoc analysis of the NORD-STAR trial, we aimed to examine sex differences in remission rates with three different biological treatments combined with methotrexate versus active conventional treatment over 24 weeks, in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: NORD-STAR was a multicentre, investigator-initiated, assessor-blinded, phase 4, randomised, controlled trial of early rheumatoid arthritis, done in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Newly diagnosed patients, naive to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, aged 18 years or older with early rheumatoid arthritis and with a symptom duration less than 24 months were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to receive active conventional treatment, certolizumab-pegol, abatacept, or tocilizumab. Sex was reported in case report forms by study physicians or by study nurses. Data on gender were not collected. Remission outcomes were analysed with logistic generalised estimating equations (GEE), using a logit link and exchangeable correlation matrix. The model included treatment, time, sex, and the relevant interactions. For this post-hoc analysis, the co-primary outcomes were differences in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission (CDAI score ≤2·8) between sexes over time and at week 24, assessed with interaction terms (men vs women within each treatment comparison) and using active conventional treatment as the reference. We present adjusted average marginal differences in remission rates (risk differences) with 95% CIs. FINDINGS: Between Dec 14, 2012, and Dec 11, 2018, 812 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned; 217 received active conventional treatment, 203 received certolizumab-pegol, 204 received abatacept, and 188 received tocilizumab. All 812 patients were included in this analysis; 561 (69%) were women and 251 (31%) were men. Observed CDAI remission rates at 24 weeks were numerically higher among men than among women despite comparable disease activity at baseline (55% vs 50% with active conventional treatment, 57% vs 52% with certolizumab-pegol, 65% vs 51% with abatacept, and 61% vs 40% with tocilizumab). In the adjusted analysis, with active conventional treatment as the reference, the only significant difference between men and women was in the tocilizumab group (pinteraction=0·015); men in the tocilizumab group had a higher probability of CDAI remission, on average over time, than did men in the active conventional treatment group (0·12; 95% CI 0·00 to 0·23), whereas women in the tocilizumab group had a lower probability of remission than did women in the active conventional treatment group (-0·05, 95% CI -0·13 to 0·02). INTERPRETATION: Numerically higher remission rates were observed in men than in women in all four treatment groups at week 24, suggesting that this generalised sex difference is not related to the treatment. The difference between men and women was significantly greater with tocilizumab, an interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor, than with active conventional treatment, suggesting a possible additional sex-based effect specific for IL-6 blockade. FUNDING: None.

Plasma interferon-alpha is associated with double-positivity for autoantibodies but is not a predictor of remission in early rheumatoid arthritis-a spin-off study of the NORD-STAR randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The type I interferon (IFN) gene signature is present in a subgroup of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Protein levels of IFNα have not been measured in RA and it is unknown whether they associate with clinical characteristics or treatment effect. METHODS: Patients with early untreated RA (n = 347) were randomized to methotrexate combined with prednisone, certolizumab-pegol, abatacept, or tocilizumab. Plasma IFNα protein levels were determined by single molecular array (Simoa) before and 24 weeks after treatment initiation and were related to demographic and clinical factors including clinical disease activity index, disease activity score in 28 joints, swollen and tender joint counts, and patient global assessment. RESULTS: IFNα protein positivity was found in 26% of the patients, and of these, 92% were double-positive for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). IFNα protein levels were reduced 24 weeks after treatment initiation, and the absolute change was similar irrespective of treatment. IFNα protein positivity was associated neither with disease activity nor with achievement of CDAI remission 24 weeks after randomization. CONCLUSION: IFNα protein positivity is present in a subgroup of patients with early RA and associates with double-positivity for autoantibodies but not with disease activity. Pre-treatment IFNα positivity did not predict remission in any of the treatment arms, suggesting that the IFNα system is distinct from the pathways of TNF, IL-6, and T-cell activation in early RA. A spin-off study of the NORD-STAR randomized clinical trial, NCT01491815 (ClinicalTrials), registered 12/08/2011, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01491815 .

Foot and Ankle Problems in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2019: Still an Important Issue.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of foot pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and whether including a 12-joint foot count in addition to the 28-joint count (from the Disease Activity Score 28 [DAS28]) improved detection of foot or ankle pain. In addition, the association between the self-reported foot and ankle score (SEFAS), patient-reported function, and disease-specific factors was studied. METHODS: Physician-reported data (swollen/tender 12-joint foot count, DAS28, and medication) and patient-reported data (foot/ankle pain, physical function, global health, and SEFAS) were assessed during a clinical visit. Data were analyzed with t test, χ2 tests, and regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 320 patients with RA were included (mean age 63 years, SD 13 years; 73% women), of whom 69% reported foot or ankle pain. Patients who reported foot or ankle pain had a lower mean age and worse disease activity, general pain, function, and global health (P ≤ 0.016), and fewer were in remission (50% versus 75%; P < 0.001) compared with patients without foot pain. The 12-joint foot count identified 3.2% and 9.5% additional patients with swollen and tender joints, respectively, compared with the 28-joint count. The SEFAS was associated with walking problems (ß = -2.733; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.963 to -1.503) and worse function (ß = -3.634; 95% CI = -5.681 to -1.587) but not with joint inflammation severity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of foot or ankle pain in patients with RA is high. The 12-joint foot count had minor effects on detecting patients with foot pain. However, the SEFAS contributed additional information on foot problems that was not identified by joint examinations alone.

Similar lipid level changes in early rheumatoid arthritis patients following 1-year treat-to-target strategy with adalimumab plus methotrexate versus placebo plus methotrexate: secondary analyses from the randomised controlled OPERA trial.

To compare changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other lipids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) randomised to a 1-year treat-to-target strategy with either adalimumab plus methotrexate or placebo plus methotrexate. Prespecified secondary analyses from the OPERA trial, where 180 early and treatment-naïve RA patients received methotrexate 20 mg once weekly in combination with either placebo or subcutaneous adalimumab 40 mg every other week. Serum lipid levels were measured at baseline and after 1 year. Changes in lipid levels were analysed using mixed linear models based on the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Overall, 174 patients were included in the ITT population (adalimumab plus methotrexate n = 86; placebo plus methotrexate n = 88). Differences between changes in lipid levels were low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 0.18 mmol/l [95% CI - 0.05 to 0.42], total cholesterol 0.27 mmol/l [- 0.002 to 0.54], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 0.05 mmol/l [- 0.06 to 0.15], triglycerides 0.11 mmol/l [- 0.08 to 0.29], very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 0.03 mmol/l [- 0.05 to 0.12], and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 0.22 mmol/l [- 0.02 to 0.46]. In early RA patients treated to tight control of inflammation over a period of 1 year with either adalimumab plus methotrexate or placebo plus methotrexate, changes in lipid levels were similar. Trial registration number: NCT00660647.

Predictors of joint damage progression and stringent remission in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis in clinical remission.

OBJECTIVES: To study if clinical, radiographic and MRI markers can predict MRI and radiographic damage progression and achievement of stringent remission in patients with established RA in clinical remission followed by a targeted treatment strategy. METHODS: RA patients (DAS28-CRP <3.2, no swollen joints) receiving conventional synthetic DMARDs were randomized to conventional or MRI-targeted treat-to-target strategies with predefined algorithmic treatment escalations. Potentially predictive baseline variables were tested in multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In the 171 patients included, baseline MRI osteitis independently predicted progression in MRI erosion [odds ratio (OR) 1.13 (95% CI 1.06, 1.22)], joint space narrowing [OR 1.15 (95% CI 1.07, 1.24)] and combined damage [OR 1.23 (95% CI 1.13, 1.37)], while tenosynovitis independently predicted MRI erosion progression [OR 1.13 (95% CI 1.03, 1.25)]. A predictor of radiographic erosion progression was age, while gender predicted progression in joint space narrowing. Following an MRI treat-to-target strategy predicted stringent remission across all remission definitions: Clinical Disease Activity Index remission OR 2.94 (95% CI 1.25, 7.52), Simplified Disease Activity Index remission OR 2.50 (95% CI 1.01, 6.66), ACR/EULAR Boolean remission OR 5.47 (95% CI 2.33, 14.13). Similarly, low tender joint count and low patient visual analogue scale pain and global independently predicted achievement of more stringent remission. CONCLUSION: Baseline MRI osteitis and tenosynovitis were independent predictors of 2 year MRI damage progression in RA patients in clinical remission, while independent predictors of radiographic damage progression were age and gender. Following an MRI treat-to-target strategy, low scores of patient-reported outcomes and low tender joint count predicted achievement of stringent remission. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov), NCT01656278.